Let's Talk

Forum for Young Canadians

By Michel Savard, Health and Safety Coordinator, National Headquarters

Each year, the Forum for Young Canadians brings more than 550 senior high school and CEGEP students from across Canada to the nation's capital to learn firsthand how government works. It is a program of the Foundation for the Study of Processes of Government in Canada, a non-profit, non-partisan agency. Thanks to the active participation of Cabinet ministers, senators, members of Parliament, the judiciary, senior public servants, press representatives, minority groups and business and labour leaders, Forum is a rich and varied experience.

This year three employees of Corrections Canada were selected as counsellors for the program: Michel Savard, Health and Safety Coordinator, NHQ; Marty Maltby, Project Officer, Community Engagement, Dominique Dulac, Parole Officer, Martineau Community Correctional Centre.

Young Canadians and counsellors on the steps of the Centre Block, Parliament Hill

Forum brings approximately 140 students to Ottawa a week, for the four weeks of the program. Counsellors move into the hotel with the students for the entire chosen week.

Days are spent on Parliament Hill and in other federal facilites such as Rideau Hall and Foreign Affairs. Students receive rich educational experiences during the week, such as a question and answer period with the Speaker of the House of Commons while they sit in the seats of the Members of Parliament, breakfast with senators followed by questions and answers in the Senate, visits to a federal court and the Supreme Court, to mention just a few.

Evenings are spent working on scenario-based exercises such as a selection of political party leaders, followed by a federal election, and later, the provincial premiers conference with the prime minister. Evenings also included recreational activities, tours of museums, skits, and socializing.

Facilitators' duties for the week included ensuring that the students are all present and accounted for during the sessions, group facilitator during evening activities, team leader, cheerleader, mentor, counsellor, big brother or sister, and friend.

This experience is rewarding on so many levels. I learned a great deal about the federal political system, I had a wonderful time meeting young people from across the country, and these young people instilled in me a sense of confidence that as they grow into adulthood, several of them are sure to wind up in positions that will affect our country and our future.

During our meeting with the Speaker of the House of Commons and the Chief Page of the House of Commons, one young man was asked a question by the Chief Page. The question was "Where do you see yourself in 15 to 20 years from now?" Without hesitation, the young man pointed over to the chair normally occupied by the Prime Minister of Canada and replied "Right there". Now that is confidence, and from what I saw of this young man, I do not doubt his dream for a minute.